Pneumatic Lordosis Support
A pneumatic lordosis support (1) consists of a cushion (3), which is integrated into the backrest (2) of a seat. Laterally of a vertical center line (7), the cushion encompasses horizontal connections (8) between a front side and a rear side of the cushion (3). The cushion (3) is composed of an air-tight flexible membrane. In the region of the vertical center line (7), the connections (8) encompass breaks. Vertically offset to the connections (8), the cushion (3) encompasses further central horizontal connections (10), which extend substantially across the region of the breaks in the connection (8). In the region where connections (8) and central connections (10) are located close to one another, reduced radii of the membrane lead to the occurrence of less stress than in the remaining cushions (3) and allow the spine of a user to dip into the cushion (3) more softly.
The instant invention relates to a pneumatic lordosis support, for example for use in vehicle seats according to the preamble of patent claim 1. Pneumatic lordosis supports are inherently known. Generally, they consist of one or a plurality of air cushions, which are integrated into a backrest or into a lying surface in the lumbar region. An example for a pneumatic lordosis support is disclosed in WO 98/58566. This lordosis support is composed of three cushions, with the incline of the primary cushion being capable of being changed by means of two smaller secondary cushions, which are installed below a larger primary cushion. The adaptability, however, is very limited. When pressurized, the primary cushion aims at a spherical shape, which is ergonomically suboptimal.
One problem of pneumatic lordosis supports may be that they are too hard in the region of the spine and can thus cause pressure marks, depending on the anatomy of the user.
It is the object of the instant invention to create a pneumatic lordosis support, which enables a good ergonomic support of the lumbar region, which is capably of satisfying high demands with reference to the comfort and ergonomics, which does not lead to pressure marks, in particular in the region of the spine, and the support function of which can easily and rapidly be adapted to individual requirements of various users. Furthermore, it is to be possible to produce the lordosis support in a cost-efficient and simple manner.
The solution of the object is represented in patent claim 1 in view of the essential features and in the further patent claims in view of further advantageous features. The invention will be explained in more detail by means of the accompanying drawings.
A lordosis support 1 is in relationship with the body of the user. For better comprehensibility of the description, “vertical” will be used in the following as a synonym for “parallel to the direction of the spine of the user”, even if, strictly speaking, this is only correct with a perpendicular backrest 2. A lordosis support 1, however, can also be used in a lying or semi-lying position. Accordingly, “horizontal” will be used as a synonym for “the direction of the shoulder line of the user”. If not mentioned otherwise, vertical and horizontal thus relate to the local coordinate system of the user.
On both sides of a vertical center line 7, the cushion 3 encompasses a plurality, substantially horizontal, linear connections 8 of the front side 5 and of the rear side 6 of the cushion 3. These connections 8 are not continuous across the entire width of the cushion 3, but encompass a break in the region of the center line 7. With a cushion 3, the connections 8 can be made of a plastic foil by means of gluing or fusing, for example.
The vertical distance of the connections 8 determines the radii of the horizontally located tube ends defined by connections 8 and membrane 4 and thus the thickness and the vertical cross-section of the lordosis support 1 in the event of pressurization. It can be seen from
The production of a cushion 3 as illustrated in
All of the combinations of the features disclosed in the above exemplary embodiments, which are to be carried out by the person of skill in the art, are included in the idea of the invention.
Claims
1. A pneumatic lordosis support (1) consisting of at least one pressurized cushion (3) comprising a front side (5) and a rear side (6), characterized in that
- the cushion (3) has at least one uncontinuous first connection (8) of the front side (5) with the rear side (6), said connection (8) being substantially parallel to the spine of a user and subdividing the cushion into compartments,
- the cushion (3), in the region of a center line (7) of the cushion (3) being substantially parallel to the spine of the user, encompasses further central connections (10) of the front side (5) with the rear side (6) being substantially perpendicular to the spine of the user, said connections being offset in the direction of the spine of the user with reference to the first connections (8) and being shorter than half the width of the cushion (3).
2. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to patent claim 1, characterized in that
- the connection (8) encompasses a break in the region of the center line (7) and the length of the central connections (10) substantially corresponds to the length of the break in the connection (8).
3. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to patent claim 1, characterized in
- that the connection (8) to both sides of the cushion leaves open air passages (13) and runs continuously in the region of the center line (7).
4. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to one of patent claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one compartment between the connections (8) encompasses more than one central connection (10).
5. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to one of patent claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the distance between the connections (8) decreases from the broadest compartment comprising the greatest distance between the connections (8) in the direction of the center line (7) towards both edges of the cushion (3), whereby the thickness of the pressurized cushion (3) also decreases towards the upper and the lower edge.
6. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to one of patent claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, on the rear side of the cushion (3), at least one further auxiliary cushion (14) is available, which, in each case, encompasses means for supplying air independent from the cushion (3) and can thus encompass a pressure, which differs from that of the cushion (3) and the further auxiliary cushions (14).
7. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to patent claim 6, characterized in that
- at least two auxiliary cushions (14) which can be pressurized independent from one another, are available on the rear side of the cushion (3),
- furthermore a control being available, which pressurizes and again releases the auxiliary cushions (14) independent from one another so as to bring about a massage effect for the user.
8. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to one of patent claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cushion (3) is made of two plastic foils, which are fused by means of dies in connections (8, 10) and edges.
9. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to one of patent claims 1 to 8, characterized in that fastening means are available at the edge of the cushion (3), by means of which the cushion can be positioned.
10. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to one of patent claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the cushion (3) and/or the auxiliary cushions (14) are each divided into two or more air-tight partial cushions, with the partial cushions being supplied with compressed air independent from one another and can have different pressures.
11. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to patent claim 10, characterized in that a control is available, which pressurizes and again releases the partial cushions independent from one another so as to bring about a massage effect for the user.
12. The pneumatic lordosis support (1) according to one of patent claims 1 to 11, characterized in that means for supplying and leading away compressed air, an operating and control unit, a means for generating compressed air and an operating unit are available.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 31, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 25, 2008
Patent Grant number: 7857387
Inventor: Daniel Habegger (Zurich)
Application Number: 11/667,805
International Classification: A47C 7/46 (20060101);